How to make your Thanksgiving Easy

Get tips and ideas on how to reduce the stress of Thanksgiving by taking some easy steps to prepare

These days stress seems to just take over, especially close to the holidays.  I wanted to share some tips and ideas on how to make your Thanksgiving easy. 

I tend to post this article each year because I want to share some ideas to help you make your holiday and celebration easier.   Even though the title says Thanksgiving, these tips and tricks can be used for any type of holiday entertaining or celebration.  With so many changes in our lives, you have to decide if you are keeping the same traditions or trying something new.    

A few of years ago, one of my Professor’s had asked about tips and tricks for Thanksgiving as one of my first posts.  In my opinion, it was a pretty extensive list.  I re-post this information so those of you who need a reminder to “take a breath” and think about what is most important to you.  

HOLIDAYS ARE COMING WHETHER WE LIKE IT OR NOT.

In a few weeks it will be Thanksgiving.  The stress of the holiday season on a normal basis is enough to make you want to jump out a window, but now add the stress of relatives and possibly YOUR  first time hosting Thanksgiving dinner and your thinking “Holy Moly, what have I done, this is a recipe for disaster”. (yes, I’ve been having the holiday at my house for past 5 years? I think I lost track).  It’s usually just hubby, daughter, my mom and myself.  People in my office take the few days before to get their celebrations together, but I don’t have that luxury because then there is no one in the office.

I have devised a list of simple tips that have helped  me through the crunch.  The ONE thing that will immediately alleviate any stress is going to be organization and being prepared.  Once you know what you are doing it will be fine. you ready for some ideas to relieve some of the pressure you may be feeling and to make your holiday easy?

TAKE A DEEP BREATH

Don’t take on more than you feel you can handle.  Especially if it’s your first time you’re hosting the dinner.  KEEP IT SIMPLE!  This year I will be taking my own advice.  Since I don’t have the extra days off, my mom will probably order a Honey ham and have it shipped to me.  My family is not thrilled with turkey and we have been doing a ham instead for the past few years.   Hey, who says it has to be a bird?  It’s my party and I’ll do what I want.  You can too!

Did you know that you can order a cooked turkey from your local supermarket or even a restaurant?  More on the main course later.  Once you have figured out what your main item will be,  then it’s time to fill in with the side dishes that are traditional to your family.  So start thinking about what you want your menu to look like.

DON’T TRY NEW RECIPES

Now is not the time to field test a recipe.  Most people like tradition when it comes to the holiday and expect the same thing each year.  Stay with the tried and true your family enjoys.  If there is something traditional that you can’t prepare, ask one of your invites who knows how to do it to provide that dish.  For example, your family loves stuffing and you know your Aunt Emily makes the best, ask her to make it.  One less dish for you and you know everyone will enjoy it.

PREP, PREP, PREP AHEAD OF TIME

3 weeks out, at this point, you should start putting your menu together and a shopping list of what you want or need to prepare. Make a list of the dishes, sauces, desserts, drinks for your menu.  Next to each dish,  write your list of ingredients.  So for a simple example is:  Cranberry sauce, well if you are purchasing it prepared, then you simply add to your shopping list.  If you are making it, you write Cranberries, orange juice, surgar on your shopping list and a time next to the dish how long it will take to prepare and if it can be done ahead of time. 

Start a to-do list that begins a week out from Thanksgiving, putting the day at the top of your list.  Then you would write the various tasks on the specific day you would like to get it done.  This will help you with your timeline. TIP:  when put the list in timeline order, stick to it!  

A good Example: 2 weeks before, order apple pies (depending where you are getting them you may need more time), 11:00 am on the holiday put in the turkey, 3:00 pm after the turkey comes out of the oven bake the stuffing.), these are just examples. Keep the list on your counter or fridge so as you complete something, check it off.  This will help you stay on track and will be your bible all the way to the end of the holiday.

WHAT DO THE PROFESSIONALS DO?

Think of yourself as a restaurant.  What do they do to be able to run smoothly?  They prep, prep and more prep.  Cut and clean as many of your vegetables ahead of time as possible. Make as many of the dishes ahead of time.  There are so many websites out there that can give you some make ahead recipes. If you need some inspiration about apps and drinks,  check out Festive Sips and Apps for your next holiday party. 

Do something each day before the holiday and then it should all come together when the holiday arrives.   For mashed potatoes, wash and peel the potatoes (don’t cut them up, they will be too waterlogged) then cover them in cold water overnight.  All you will have to do the next day is drain, cut them up and cook as normal.  Stuffing can be prepared a day ahead and put in a casserole dish covered in the fridge.  Take it out for about an hour to bring to room temp and then cook as you would normally.  If you are baking potatoes, use your microwave to cook,  then coat them with vegetable or olive oil and put them in the oven to crisp the skin.  These are just some suggestions.

UTILIZE OTHER APPLIANCES

Utilize your slow cooker, pressure cooker, and/or your airfryer.  Try the Rockcrok set that you can use in both the oven and as a slow cooker. Regardless of if you have one or you purchase one, slow cookers can cook, keep things warm, or you can serve a dip for an appetizer.   I use my Quick Cooker.  This is a game changer! These items will help alleviate your stress by allowing the appliance to do the work.    Pressure cookers can help you cut down on the amount of time your food cooks.  Your Airfryer will helps with cooking items, like rolls, roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, even desserts.  They will all give you more space in the oven.

ASK FOR HELP!

Especially if this is your first time hosting.  If someone asks if they can bring something, SAY YES! A side dish, salad, appetizer, dessert, even the turkey.  Cooking a chicken let a loan a turkey is very intimidating, you can check out my struggles in Battle Roast Chicken.  My mother in law wasn’t a great cook, but I knew who to call to make a roast turkey. Like I said previously, I don’t have the extra days off, but my mom is coming early and she offered to help as much as she can while I’m at work.  Another way to take advantage is to make it a “Potluck Thanksgiving” and ask everyone to bring something, even if its napkins. This is no time to play the martyr.  If they can’t bring something, assign them to be the packing or cleanup crew. 

Teenagers are great for this.  Get as many people involved as possible. We as the host/hostesses tend to forget, this is just much our holiday as it is for our guests and we want to enjoy the food and company as well.  Often we become the chef, waiter, waitress and cleanup crew.  Then we wonder how come the day went so fast, we’re exhausted and we are looking to eat our meal at 2:00 in the morning because now it’s quiet.

THE STORE WILL BE OPEN!

Not only can you ask your family and friends to help, but you should also take help from the supermarket. Did you see my first tip?  If you or anyone you know cannot do the turkey, especially if you don’t want to take the chance of serving a “Grizzwald” dry bird, order it.  Put a little of your own touch on store-bought items; top that out of the box apple pie with ice cream, whipped cream and drizzle some caramel topping on it.  Get a plain cheesecake and top with raspberry/strawberry preserves or drizzle chocolate shell ice cream topping and caramel sauce on top of the cake and add some pecans to make a turtle cheesecake. Use boxed stuffing and add sweet sausage and chopped apples.  Remember we’re trying to keep things easy….

ALL THOSE DISHES!! OMG!!!!

If you have a lot of people coming, forget the good china.  There are some beautiful disposable dinnerware, flatware, serve-ware and glasses that can be purchased and there is no dish washing.  Local dollar and discount stores offer great deals on disposable aluminum pans.  USE THEM!

ROAST, ROAST, ROAST!

Carrots, string beans, cauliflower, broccoli, brussell sprouts are great roasted.  Toss with Olive Oil, salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder and roast in a 425 oven until fork tender.  Broccoli, string beans, and brussel sprouts can then be tossed with balsamic vinegar.  Top with chopped parsley and voila!

GOBBLE, GOBBLE

If you don’t have a large oven, cook two small turkeys instead.  You could even have the butcher in the store cut the turkey into quarters and roast that way.  It takes a shorter time than cooking an entire bird.  

BE READY FOR YOUR “TABLESCAPE”

Regardless, if you insist on using fine china and serving platters or if you are using disposable, if you are having a sit down formal dinner or buffet; Set your table and set out all your serving pieces one or two nights before.  This way you’re not running around last minute to try to find that gravy boat.

NO NEED TO STRESS

If all else fails…. grab a glass of wine, make reservations at a nice restaurant or have the meal catered.

You want to enjoy your holiday and your company.  The most important thing to remember is keeping it simple and as the good ole Boyscout saying goes “be prepared”.  If you forgot a side dish, so what! Move on and serve what you have. What you forgot to serve will be part of your leftovers for that 2:00 in the morning meal.  The host/hostess does not need to stress.  If you do, it will show and no one will have a good time.  “Don’t let them see you sweat!”

One thing doesn’t change year after year, we have to remember there are things in our lives we should be thankful for.

Well, I told you it was pretty extensive.  I would love to hear how your Thanksgiving went and if any of these tips helped.  Remember I want to help YOU be kitchen confident! 

If you want to receive a planning guide for your holiday meal, sign up for my newsletter and I will send you an outline. For more inspiration, ideas, tips and recipes, follow me on Facebook 

Have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving!

(Full disclosure, I am a Pampered Chef consultant and will be paid a commission on certain products purchased at no additional cost to you)

Re-post 11/01/2021